Fan heater



July 24, 1934.

J. S. LOSEE FAN HEATER Filed Feb. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 .III

July 24, 1934. J 5 055 1,967,757

FAN HEATER Filed Feb. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fzvenzf.

July 24, 1934. J LOSEE 1,967,757

FAN HEATER Filed Feb. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 24, 1934. J. s. LOSEE FAN HEATER Filed Feb. 10, 1932 2% I 4 Z??? f W 2 n w 6 W9 a j I July 24, 1934. is LOSEE 1,967,757

FAN HEATER Filed Feb. 10, 19732 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,fizven ar.

,gfos: Z066 PM July 24, 1934 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES 8 Claims. (01. 219-39) This invention relates to a fan heater and more particularly to a portable unit in which a fan forces air into contact with a heating element,

the fan being operable separately, when desired,

for cooling purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a portable heating unit which is self-cooling in operation and which is constructed in such a manner as to permit ready and accurate assembly as well as disassembly for repair purposes. Another obiect is to provide an improved heatercooler unit of improved and simplified construction which operates with high efficiency. Other speciflc objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front phantom view in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a rear view in elevation; Fig. 3, a side view showing the top portion of the casing broken away; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a rear face view of the heating elements, the inner casing to which the elements are attached being removed; and Fig, 6, a diagrammatic view of the wiring layout.

In the illustration given, A represents a base; B, a casing pivotally mounted upon the base; C, a fan driven by motor C; and D, electric resistance elements.

The base A may be of any suitable construction. It is preferably formed of metal and is hollow to receive switch mechanism which may be operated by lever A'. The base is also provided with an opening A through which the electric wires may extend into the base, At its upper end, the

base is preferably cut away at 10 to provide square sides and is provided also with integral attachment ears 11. Pivotally secured to the attachment ears 11 are flanges 12 which are secured by screws or other suitable means to casing B. The electric wires pass up through the hollow neck of base A and through an opening 13 in casing B.

The casing B may be of any desired construction. It is preferred to form the casing of two parts B' and B, the casing parts being provided at their inner or adjacent ends with annular beads which form an interlocking joint 14. The rear casing B has its rear end portion turned inwardly to form an attachment flange 15. Similarly, the front casing section B has its front end portion 16 turned inwardly at right angles to the main body of the casing. The flange 16 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings or perforations 1'7 for ventilation purposes, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the rear flange 15 and 90 front flange 16 are provided with bolt openings 18 adapted to receive the reduced ends 19 of assembly bolts 20. a

The fan C may be of any suitable type. In the illustration given, a two-bladed propeller type 6 fan is shown. The fan is carried by a shaft 21 which is rotatably mounted in a motor 22. In view of the fact that a motor of any suitable type may be employed, a detailed description of the motor will not be given. The motor is preferably 70 supported by arm extensions 23 which are perforated at their outer ends to receive the reduced bolt ends 19. The inner ends of the arms 23 are provided with right angle flanges 24 which are bolted to the motor casing 25. As shown more clearly in Fig.4, the assembly bolts are provided with shoulders at 26 upon which the perforated arm supports 23 rest. The arms 23 are clamped against shoulders 26 by spacer nuts 2'1 which engage the threaded bolt portions 19,-the spacers 27 extending between the arms 23 and the flange 15 of easing B. a

The heating element D may be of any suitable construction. Preferably, the element comprises coils of an electric resistance element 28, such as ni-chrome wire or hands, looped about insu-- lating posts 29 which are secured by pins 30 to an inner casing or cylindrical skirt 31. The post 29 may be formed of lava, porcelain, or other suitable material.

The inner casing or cylindrical member 31, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5, preferably comprises a cylindrical portion 32 which is parallel with outer casing B and with an inwardly turned flange portion 33 which is substantially parallel 95 with the front flange 16 of outer casing B. The extreme inner end of member 31 is preferably turned outwardly at 34 toward the flange 16. A circular screen disk 35 is secured between the inner casing 31 and the flange 16, the outwardly 100 turned lip 34 serving to clamp the edge of the screen against flange 16. The flange 33 is perforated to receive the reduced ends 19 of the assembly bolts 20 and is spaced from flange 16 by spacer nuts 36 which engage the threaded portion\l9 106 of thebolts 20. 7

Any suitable back piece for the apparatus may be used. I prefer to use a removable back of the type illustrated. As shown more clearly in Figs..

2, 3 and 4, the back comprises a central circular no disk 37 and a pair of inwardly inclined arms 38 which are formed integral with disk 37 and are perforated at their ends to receive the reduced ends 19 of bolts 20. Circular concentric wires or hands 39 are secured to the inclined arms 38 by welding or any other suitable means. A back of this construction causes the air to be drawn into the casing near the sides thereof. A handle 40 may, if desired, be secured to the rear flange 15 of easing section B, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.

In assembling the apparatus, the arms 23, which carry the motor C and fan C, are secured to bolts 20 by extending the perforated ends of the arms over the reduced bolt ends 19. Spacer nuts 27 are then screwed onto the extensions 19 so as to clamp the arms 23 against shoulders 26 of the bolts 20. The inner cylindrical casing 31 is then secured to the bolts by extending the reduced ends 19 through the perforated flange 33 and screwing spacer nuts 36 upon the reduced ends 19. In this manner, the working parts of the apparatus are firmly secured together in a unit or chassis. The chassis, carrying the operative parts, may be carried within casing B by extending the reduced ends 19 through the apertures in casing flanges 15 and 16. Nuts 41 may then be screwed upon ends 19 to firmly secure the chassis to the front casing member B. The perforated arms 38 of the back are then passed over the rear bolt ends 19 and ends 41 are screwed thereon to clamp the cover and casing B upon the bolts 20.

In heating units of this type, heretofore used, in which the casing was compactly arranged about the heating elements, the casing and particularly the casing portion adjacent the heating elements, became extremely hot so that the units had to be handled with great care. With my construction, the heat which formerly was transferred to the casing is carried back to the fan and dispersed thereby through the room, thus not only protecting the casing from the heat, but also reutilizing the heat. In the operation of my heater, air enters through the perforations or slots 17 in the front flange 16 of the casing and passes through the annular channel formed between the inner casing 31 and the outer casing C.

It is then drawn inwardly toward the fan and discharged through the screen 35. The current of cooled air thus passes along the inner side of the casing B and keeps the casing relatively cool. At the same time, this air is preheated.

In the summer time, when it is no longer desired to heat the air, the heating element may be cut out of use and the fan alone employed. Any suitable switch mechanism and wiring layout may be used for this purpose.

In the illustration given in Fig. 6, one method of wiring is illustrated. 42 represents a switch provided with terminals 43 and 44. The terminal 43 is connected through line 45 with the motor coil 46. The return line 47 completes the circuit. Terminal 44 is connected through line 48 with the resistance elements 49 and the return line 50 from the resistance elements connects with the motor coil at 51. When the switch is swung to terminal 43, the motor alone is actuated, and the fan is turned to cool the air. When the switch is swung to terminal 44, the current passes through line 48, resistance 49,motor coils 46 and back through line 47. The above diagrammatic layout is solely for purposes of illustration and it will be understood that any suitable plan may be used by which the motor and resistance element may be operated in series or the motor alone operated.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character set forth, a casing having its ends provided with inturned flanges, the front flange of said casing being provided with ventilator openings, bolts extending through said flanges, motor supporting arms so.- cured to the bolts, an inner casing also secured to said bolts, said inner casing being spaced from the first-mentioned casing to provide therebetween an air-circulating channel, said outer ca s ing being apertured adjacent said space between the inner and outer casings, resistance elements carried by said inner casing, and a motor-driven fan carried by said arms.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a twopart casing, the parts having their inner ends overlapping and having their outer ends turned inwardly to form flanges, said front flange being apertured to afford ventilation apertures, an inner casing member spaced from said first-mentioned casing and affording therebetween an aircirculating passage, said inner casing member having a sealing lip extending toward said front flange, a screen having its edges clamped between said sealing lip and said front flange, resistance elements supported by said inner casing, and a motor-driven fan for driving air toward said resistance elements.

3. In a device of the character set forth, a twopart casing, said casing parts having their inner ends forming a telescoping joint and their outer ends turned inwardly to form flanges, said flanges being perforated to receive assembly bolts, and

a chassis comprising assembly bolts having reduced threaded ends and shoulders adjacent said reduced ends, an inner casing member apertured to receive the reduced ends of said bolts, a spacer nut engaging said inner casing and clamping it between said shoulder and said nut, a motor supporting frame having apertured arms receiving the opposite reduced ends of said bolts, spacer nuts clamping said arms between said nuts and the shoulders of said bolts, and threaded means 1133211 t:ecuring said casing parts to the ends of said 4. In a device of the character set forth, a cylindrical casing, a cylindrical inner casing secured therein and affording a space therebetween, insulating posts secured about the margin of said inner casing, resistance wire coiled about said posts, a screen clamped between said inner casing and said outer casing in front of said inner casing, said outer casing being apertured adjacent said space between the inner and outer casings and a motor-driven fan supported in said casing behind said resistance coils.

5. In a device of the character set forth, a casing having its ends provided with inturned flanges, the front flange of said casing being provided with ventilator openings, an inner casing member spaced from said first mentioned casing and affording therebetween an air-circulating passage, said inner casing member having a sealing lip extending toward saidrfront flange, a screen having its edges'clamped between said sealing lip and said front flange, resistance elements supported by said inner casing, and a motor-driven fan for driving air toward' said resistance element.

6. In a device 01. the character set forth, a oasing provided with an inwardly turned front end having ventilator openings therein, an inner casing member spaced from said first mentioned casing and aflording therebetween an air-circulating passage, said inner casing having a vertical. post-supporting section and an outwardly turned sealing lip, posts secured to said vertical portion of the inner casing, a resistance element secured to said post, a motor-driven fan for driving air toward the resistance element, and a screen having its edge portions clamped between said sealing lip and the front end of said casing.

7. In a device of the character set forth, a twopart casing, the parts having their inner ends overlapping and having their outer ends turned inwardly to form flanges, said front flange being apertured to aflord ventilator apertures, an inner casing member spaced from said first mentioned casing and ai'lording therebetween an air-circulating e, resistance elements supported by said inner casing, and a motor-driven fan for driving air toward said resistance element. 8. In a device of the character set forth, a twopart casing, the parts having their inner ends overlapping and having their outer ends turned inwardly to form flanges, said front flange being apertured to afford ventilator apertures, an inner casing member spaced from said first mentioned casing and affording therebetween an air-circulating passage, a screen secured to the front portion of said outer casing, resistance elements supported by said inner casing, and a motordriven fan for driving air toward said resistance e1ements.- JOSEPH 8. LOSEE. 

